Documents to check before you buy

The papers that show a seller can sell and a building can be lived in.

Why the papers matter more than the paint

A flat can be perfect and still be a problem if the seller does not hold clean title or the building was not built as approved. Ask for the documents before you pay anything beyond a refundable token, and be wary of any seller who is reluctant to share them.

For any property

These show who owns it and whether anyone else has a claim on it.

• The title deed or sale deed, and the earlier deeds that show how ownership reached the seller.
• An encumbrance certificate for the past years, which shows registered loans or charges against the property.
• The latest property tax receipt and utility bills, which show nothing is owed.
• Mutation or khata records in the seller's name, where your state uses them.

For a new project

These show the builder may sell and the building has permission to exist.

• The RERA registration number, checked on the state authority's website.
• The approved building plan and the commencement certificate from the local authority.
• The builder's title to the land, or the development agreement with the landowner.
• The draft agreement to sell, so you can read it before you are asked to sign it.

For a completed or resale home

These show the building is finished lawfully and the society has no claim against the flat.

• The completion or occupancy certificate.
• The society's no-objection and no-dues letters, and its share certificate where relevant.
• The seller's loan closure letter and original papers, if the flat is mortgaged.

Have somebody read them

If any of this is unfamiliar, a property lawyer's fee is small against the price of the home. Ask them to check the chain of ownership and the approvals and to say plainly what they could not verify.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ between states and change over time, so confirm the details that matter to you with a qualified professional or the authority concerned before you act.